Illuminating device



Feb. 24, 1931. B. A. MORTQN 1,793,818

ILLUMINATING DEVIVCE Filed June 22. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 /6 v2@ l IE; l s

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A ATTORNEYS Feb. 24, 1931. a. A, MoRroN '1,793,813

ILLUMINATING DEVICE Filed June 22, 192s 4 sheets-sheet s Fevvb. 24, 1931. B. A. MoR'roN 1,793,818

ILLUMINATING DEVICE Filed June 22, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 nNvr-:NTOR Mmmm B 6MM. fw

La ATTORNEYS Patented Fei.. 24, 1931 i `BEN-TAIWIIN' MORTON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ILLUMINATING DEVICE Application inea June 22, 1929. serial No. 372,875.`

Thisinventionrelates to method and apparatus for edecting artificialillumination, and hasfor its object the provision of a lighting system wherein the source of artificial light for a room to be illuminated is associated with the windows of the compartment in such manner as to be entirely concealed in the day time when not in use, and when lighted to provide an illumination simulating that l' Vof the daylight in that the light comes from the same direction as the daylight and is diffused over a large area as distinguished from the ordinary intense concentrated light.

VA further object of the `invention is to provide a light of the character described which is built into the wall itself in such manner that it may be completely concealedwith windowcurtains of ordinary design so that in the day time when the light is not in use, the appearance of the window will be in no wise different from an ordinary curtained window.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method of illumination wherein the lighting source is itself like a window in that it is a light-diffusing' portion of the wall surface without extending or projecting `parts such as are essential to the ordinary lighting fixtures.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated several modifications of my invention which will now be described.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is an elevational view showing a portion of the wall of a room showing a window equipped with my improved method of lightlng;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on a somewhat enlarged scale on line 2 2 of Fig. 1

Figs. 3-11 inclusive are detail views illustrating one of the lamps, preferably, but not necessarily, employed in my improved method of illumination, and the holder for the same;

` Fig. 12 is a detail view showing a modified form of lamp adapted for use in carrying out my invention;

Figs. 13, 14 and 15 are elevational views similar to Fig. 1, showing different arrangements for utilizing the lighting unit illustrated inFig. 12; p

Fig. 16 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale on line 16--16 of Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is an elevational View of a further modification of my invention;

Fig. 18 is a detailed sectional view on an enlarged scale on line 18-18 of Fig. 17; and

Fig. 19 is a diagrammatic view showing the circuits for the light arrangement shown in Figs. 18 and 19.

Referring to the drawings, particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, 1 indicates the wall of a building having a window opening 2 containing the usual window frame 3 and window sashes as indicated at 4. Above the window there is provided a recess 4a extending across the width of the window and six or eight `inches in height. Mounted in the recess `is a bof'- like frame 5 adapted to receive a row of lights indicated at 8, which lights are preferably of the kind described in my companion application of even date herewith. These lights are incandescent electric lights, but instead of being of the usual bulb or pear shape, the lights or bulbs are of generally prismatic form so as to present at least one flat surface and straight side edges so that a plurality of the bulbs may be put together' to form a continuous surface illuminated by the filap ments within.

My preferred form of lights is shown in Figs. 3-11 inclusive. As here shown the glass vessel 8 forming the bulb is of rectangular shape on its front face and of similar shape on the rear face except of slightly smaller dimensions. The bulb is about half as thick as it is wide and around its four side edges it is grooved as shown at 9 to receive the clamping fingers 10 formed on the edges of the reflector 11. The filament 12 is )referably supported in the bulb near the ottoni by means of the usual neclr 13 through which, the lead-in wires pass in the usual manner. Freferably the bulb is provided with a depression 14 in its rear face surrounding the outwardly extending part of the neck so that the terminals 15 of the lamp will project but slightly beyond the rear face of the bulb. Attached to the back of the refiector along its bottom edge, as shown more particularly in Fig. 7, are a series of contact blocks 1G f each of which is provided with upstanding spring terminals 17 adapted to engage the contacts on the rear face of the bulbs 8 when the bulbs are in place in the grip of tlie'spring vfingers 1,0 as shown in' Figs. 2 and 12.V

The glass of the bulbs is preferably 'frosted .on the inside, so as to diffuse the light from the iilament which will beviurther diffused 1 by the reflector at the back, presenting, while the lights are turned on, a lightetransmitting surface of substantially uniform intensityV throughout.

It' desired the bottom edge Vof the bulb may`v be concealed by a horizontal strip 18 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 extending lacross the face of the row of lights and eta sui'iicient height to cut ofithedirectra-ys of the .i'ilament from anyone standing on the iioor ot' the room.V With-this arrangement'lights of high candle power may be used so as to` illuminea large room without any part oithe light-giving surface being suihciently brilliantto be unpleasantly intense.

By arranging the lights over the wind-cw in the manner described, Vthe illumination oi y the room in both night time and day time comes .from thesanie general direction so that. the furniture inthe roo-m when arranged to best advantage `for daylight illumination will be suitable for the artificial light. rimarily, however, my improvement provides an arrangement for properly rilluminating room-without the employment of anyy unsightly protruding or depending fixtures such as unavoidable with present-day lighting xtures. By arranging the lighting in vthis manner the lights may be entirely concealed when not in use by a valance-'19 supported on a rod 20acarried by the top n cmber of the frame 5; Y The window curtains 20 aresupported on a'r rod 21 across the top of the window frame which vis concealed bythe lower edge of the valance'when thel valance is closed, so that with the curtains either openY or closed the valance presents `the usual ap- 'pearancev andthe window, when equipped to only partially fill the i'rame 22. rIhe bulbs` are arranged in a. row across the bottom wall of the frame and are held in place against the contacts 23 by a bar or rod 2a which overlies the row of bulbs and is held down in place `on the bulb by 'means of springs 25 fastened tothe end wall of thei'rame and overlyingthe ends of the rod above the arms 26 on which the` rod is mounted. Also attached to each end wall of the frame is a spring linger 27 adapted to engage the outside walls of the two end bulbs in the row and hold the bulbs together and thus presenta substantially illuminated iace. The back of the frame 22 may be formed-of a reflector 28 toV diffuse the light passing through the back and upper walls oi the bulbs.

In Figzlll I'have shown an arrangement particularly adapted for oliices and-the like, where curtains such as shown in Figs. l and 13 would be out of place. In this ligure I have illustrated a lighting arrangement such as showin in Fig. 12, but instead or" employing curtains with a valance to conceal the window and lights, ordinary shade rollers,'as indicated at 29, may be employed, the lower roller covering the wind-ow in the usual -manner and the upper shade, preferably of somewhat greater widtli,'covering the lights and the retlector trame. In the day time when the upper shade 29is pulled down suficiently to cover the lower shade 30, the window will pre-V sent the appearance of an ordinary window with a partly drawn shade. y Y.

In Figs. 15 and 16 I have illustrated another` arrangement of lights. As here shown the row ot lights 31 is supported atthe top ot the reflector trame with the reliector 39 curved upwardly at the bottom so as to rellect the light from the baclrfand bottom walls of the bulb out into the room and against the ceiling, where Yit will be properly diffused. Inthese figures I have also illustrated another method of concealing the lights whenynot in use. As here shown the frame 33,in which the lights and reflector are supported, is providedat the top and-bottom with sliding and pivoted covers 34, 35, which may be' drawn out and closed against the face of the frame as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 15, giving the window the appearance of having a panel across the top. i Y

In Figs. 17 and 18 I have illustrated a further arrangement wherein diii'erent degrees of illumination may be had without detract` ing from its appearance. To this end the entire Jfront face of the frame is iilled with bulbs which are preferably square and set diagonally with respect to the walls of the frame so as to form a pattern, as illustrated in Fig. 17. rl"riangular bulbs 36 may be employed around the margin to iill in between the corners. Any suitable means may be provided for holding the bulbs in place. For enample, individual sockets 37 Jformed of spring clips for engaging' the 'grooved edges 'of the bulbs may be' provided, individual contacts being positioned to engage the terminals of the iilament, as shown in Fig. 18.

For the design shown in Fig. 17 the sockets 37 will be arranged in alternate rows of three and two, respectively, the first row to-hold iis one square and two triangular bulbs and the neXt two rows square bulbs, and so on.

The various terminals are connected together in dilferent groups having different numbers of lights so that by turning different switches the illuminated area will be varied but the lights which are lighted lin any case will be in regular pattern and not haphazard in the frame, which would give the appearance of burned out lights. For example, the middle row of square bulbs may be all connected as indicated by the circuit 38 so as to afford a minimum degree of illumination by turning on this row of bulbs only. The upper and lower rows of square bulbs may be similarly connected in a single circuit as indicated at 39, so that when this circuit line is closed there will be two rows of bulbs, providing double the light obtained when the first eircuit onlyis cl-osed. By closing both circuits all the square bulbs may be illuminated, and lastly all the triangular bulbs may be connected in a third circuit indicated at 40, ard when this circuit also is closed the entire face of the frame will be illuminated.

I have illustrated my improved lighting arrangement as contained in a recess above the window frames, and this, I believe, is the preferred location. However, it may be otherwise associated with the window without departing from the spirit of my invention. For example, the frame containing the lichts may be readily located within the window frame in front of the top portion of the upper sash. By having a valance of sufricient depth ,hung in the usual manner along a pole parallel with the curtain pole, the lights will be concealed when the curtains are opened and will only be visible when the valance which will preferably be made in two parts, as described, is opened. The frames containing the lights may also be mounted along the side edges of the window frame, so as to be concealed by the side edges of the curtains when the curtains are either opened or closed, in the usual manner, the lights being readily visible by pushing in the outer edge of the curtain sufficiently to be able to light them.

Other arrangements of the lights will doubtless suggest themselves, and 'it is to be understood that my invention is limited only to the extent indicated by the appended claims.

I claim:

l; The combination with a window of a group of lights forming an illuminated area the illuminated area when the window is either covered or uncovered.

3. A windo\v,1artiiicial lights above said window, curtains over said window, a valance over said lights, and means for shifting said alance to uncover said lights independently of the curtains.

e. In combination with a window, a frame mounted in the wall adjacent thereto, a series of lights supported in the frame and forming a` continuously illuminated surface substantially in the plane of the wall surface, and means independent of the window curtains for optionally covering said lights, said means comprising a valance having its lower edge extending overI the upper edge of the window curtain so that the window when the `alanca is in place presents the appearance of an ordinary curtained window.

5. The combination of a wall, a window therein, a recess in the wall above the window, a frame in said recess, electric lights supported in said frame and within said recess, electric circuit connections forsaid lights supported in said frame, a curtain for said window and a curtain adapted to cover said .lights und the upper part of said window curtain.

6. The combination of a wall, a window therein, a recess in the Tall above the window, i

a frame in said recess, electric lights having flat front faces supported in said frame and within said recess with their front faces substantially flush with said wall, electric circuit connections for said lights supported in said frame, a curtain for said window and a curtain adapted to cover said lights and the upper part of said window curtain.

7. lr window having means for illuminating a room both in the daytime and at night, comprising a window-frame supporting window-sections, the wall above the frame having a recess therein, an open-faced box supported by said window frame in said recess, the face ofthe box being closed Hush with the wall su rface by members constituting the portion of the wall surface occupied by the box, a continuous broad baud of illumination emanating from the same direction as daylight.

8. The combination of a wall, a window therein, a recess in the wall adjacent said window, and series of electric light bulbs having fiat front faces supported in said recess `with their flat faces substantially filling said recess and forming a surface flush with said wall the lights of each series being grouped se paratcly to form the face of the recess into a plurality of different patterns, and a separate circuit for each of said patterns, whereby diffcrent positions of said surface may be illuminated to present different lighting patterns.

9. The combination of a wall, a window therein, a recess in the wall adjacent said `Window, a series of electric light bulbs having flat front faces supported in said recess with their flat faces substantially lling said recessand forming an illuminated surface y flush with said Wall, and separate curtains for covering said Window and'said lights.

10. The combination of a. Wall, a Window therein, a fraine'mounted adjacent said Windovv, a kseries of spring contacts mounted in said frame, al series 0i' lbulbs in said frame, said bulbs having hat front faces, and means for holding said bulbs in said frame with their terminals in engagement With said contacts and With their iront faces in substantial alignment;

kll. An apparatus for direct and indirect lighting comprising a Wall having a recess above the eye level of persons standing on the l iioor, direct lighting units occupying ay portion of the face of said recess, and a. reflector iornied at the back of said recess adapted to f relectthelight from said lighting units through the unoccupied space at the front of said recess onto the ceiling` to provide indirect illumination for the room` l2. An apparatus .for indirect lighting comprising a Wall having a recess above the eye level of persons standing on the floor, direct lighting units occupying a. portion of the face of said recess, and a reflector formed at the haclr of said recess adapted to reflect the lights from said lighting units through the unoccupied space at the front of said ETUI recess into said room, said lighting units comprising elements having lat faces of lightdiiiusing material arranged in juxtaposition to each other so as to form an illuminated area. v

ln testimony whereof l airix inv signature.

BENJAMIN A. MoRroN. 

